KEENE, N.H.  1/5/12 – Playing its first game at home in over a month, the Keene State College men's basketball team overcame a sluggish start to post a 90-62 non-conference victory over Lasell College from Newton, Mass. at Spaulding Gym on Thursday night. 

Junior Ryan Martin (Wayne, Maine) had a game-high 20 points and sophomore John Boyatsis (Dover, N.H.) came off the bench to score a career-high 15 points to lead the Owls (8-3).  Seeing his first action in five games, junior Rashad Wright (Agawam, Mass.) also had a strong game for KSC, finishing with 13 points and eight rebounds.

With several personnel changes on the team, KSC unveiled a new starting line-up that included defensive-minded senior captain Steve Boudreau (North Andover, Mass.). Several players, including sophomore Jim Hepple (Newington, Conn.) and Boyatisis and freshmen Tom Doyle (Wallingford, Conn.) also saw extended minutes for the first time this season.  

KSC Coach Rob Colbert was pleased how his team responded to the challenge of the long break and incorporating new players into the line-up.  "This team has faced adversity in having the break and some personnel changes and I thought we played more as a group tonight than we've had all year. It was a team win." 

Trailing 36-35 with 3:27 to go, the Owls finished the first half with a 10-3 run that was culminated by a coast-to-coast buzzer-beating scoop shot by Martin that put Keene State up 45-39.

The Owls pulled away from the Lasers in the second half.  A nice cross-over dribble and lay-up by junior Anthony Mariano (Naugatuck, Conn.) gave the Owls a 49-41 lead.

A 15-0 run that began with a lay-up by sophomore Montel Walcott (New Haven, Conn.) and finished off by transition basket by Boyatsis; put the Owls up 64-44 with 12:10 to play.  The run included three point hoops by Mariano, Doyle and junior Tyler Grillo (Saugus, Mass.).  "It felt great, I've been waiting to get on the court," said Boyatsis, who knocked down three of his long-range rainbow three-point shots in the game.  "We had some different players out there, but I thought we played very hard." 

Hepple had the defensive play of the game for the Owls midway in the second half when he tracked down senior Javon Williams (Mattapan, Mass.) and slapped the ball away as Williams went in for an uncontested lay-up.

Keene State shot 46% (32-69) from the field and hit eight of its 21 (38%) attempts from behind the arc.  Lead by Walcott's nine rebounds, the Owls dominated the boards 51-33 and had a wide 16-8 advantage off the offensive glass.

Lasell (3-7) placed three players in double-figures, led by Williams, who scored 16 points.  Junior Sean Bertanza (Seymour, Conn.) had 14 points while freshman Sherrod Wade (College Park, Ga.) finished with 12 points and nine rebounds.

Starting with Saturday's game at Southern Maine, Keene State begins a stretch of seven straight Little East games.  "I think we're ready," said Colbert.  "I think they've had enough of me in practice, so they're ready to play some games."